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Pottawattamie County Board re-elects Brian Shea as chair, adopts meeting rules and fills deputies
Summary
At organizational sessions Jan. 2–27, 2026, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors elected Brian Shea chair and Tim Wichman chair pro‑tem, adopted Robert’s Rules as its parliamentary guide, set the regular meeting schedule, and approved multiple county deputy appointments and administrative resolutions.
The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors reestablished its 2026 leadership and made several administrative changes during January organizational sessions.
District Court Judge Maggie Popp Reyes swore in newly elected Supervisor Keith Jones; Mary Ann Hanusa was appointed temporary chairperson to conduct the election, and the Board elected Brian Shea chairperson and Tim Wichman chair pro‑tem by roll call (AYES: Shea, Wichman, Miller, Jorgensen, Jones). The Board then adopted Robert’s Rules of Order as its written parliamentary authority except where it conflicts with the Code of Iowa.
The Board set its regular sessions for Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., preserving the Chair’s prerogative, with town halls in rural Pottawattamie County to continue. It approved routine administrative resolutions including Resolution No. 01‑2026 authorizing the Auditor to issue warrants between meetings in defined circumstances and Resolution No. 02‑2026 approving deputy appointments across county offices (examples: Jamie Behrends, Auditor first deputy; Steve Winchell, Sheriff chief deputy; Jamie Smothers and Heather Ausdemore, Treasurer first deputies).
Supervisors also approved other operational items during the period: designation of official newspapers for 2026, the county holiday schedule, the federal mileage rate (72.5¢ per mile for 2026), and a $50 per‑meeting compensation policy for township trustees and clerks (Resolution No. 08‑2026).
These administrative actions were presented as motions and carried by unanimous or recorded roll‑call votes; the Board minutes record the motions, seconds and outcomes. No substantive policy changes beyond scheduling, appointments and routine financial authorizations were adopted during these organizational proceedings.
The next procedural steps announced were certification of appointment records by the County Auditor and the posting/publication of the adopted resolutions and schedules.
